The National Assembly Transport Committee has warned contractors working on different road projects funded by the national and county governments countrywide against entertaining laxity and doing shoddy work, reiterating they need to execute their duties well.
The Committee Chairperson Mr. David Pkosing has urged contractors who have been awarded road project contracts to ensure the constructions are completed within stipulated time frame.
He said the committee will audit lazy contractors who fall short of the required service delivery, and those found culpable will be blacklisted.
Speaking while inspecting roads funded by the national government through the Kenya Urban Roads Authority in Kapenguria town, Pkosing, who is the Pokot South MP, said that he received complaints that some contractors have not completed their work. “All roads that have been prioritized this financial year must be completed within this year,” he said.
He asked the government not to pay contractors who do a shoddy job and warned they’ll not be considered for future projects, “Sluggish contractors risk not being paid. We need value for the money given by taxpayers and we’ll not allow contractors who’ve done a poor job to be paid,” he said.
The MP specifically faulted the contractor working on the rehabilitation of Lotodo street road in Makutano township, Kapenguria, for delaying the road’s completion.
At the same time, he advised contractors who were awarded contraction tenders to ensure they deliver if they wished to be considered for future projects by the government.
On the issue of the fuel VAT which is contained in the Finance Act 2018, he issued a stern warning to transporters who are taking advantage of the 8% fuel VAT to hike bus fares and faulted the move. He was accompanied by the West Pokot woman representative Lilian Tomitom who urged stakeholders in the public transport sector not to hike fares.